New type of electrolytic cell



1929- R. M DONALD 1,740,559

NEW TYPE OF ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed March 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l .12 xt w.

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0 0 0 ,h 0 E O Jnucnhz Dec.-24, 1929. R. L. MacDONALD Y NEW TYPE OF ELECTROLYTIC CELL FiIe d March so, 1928 2 sh ets-s et 2 gwwmtoz W 11W awomq Patented Dec. 24, 1929 PATENT OFFICE RALPH L. MACDONALD, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK NEW TYPE OF ELECTROLYTIC CELL Application filed llarch 30,

This invention relates to electrolytic cells for use in and method of effecting decomposition of various fluids and in some instances solids or semifluids and semisolids to liberate their components for laboratory and commercial uses. Heretofore the practice has been to submerge or partly submerge the electrodes in the electrolyte, and consequently difliculty has been experienced in collecting the useful gases in a chemically pure state due to the fact that the gases must bubble upward through the electrolyte in a rather haphazard way.

It is one of the objects of this invention to overcome the objection just mentioned by the provision of means for conveying electrolyte to a point between the electrodes either by gravity or capillary attraction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the electrolyte conveying or feeding medium is compactly enclosed between the electrodes.

Another object of the invention is to provide within the electrolytic cell a plurality of chambers in which the different products or gases of the electrolytic action may collect. A still further object of the invention is to utilize the electrodes in the formation of the gas chambers.

Other and more specific objects and advan-- 'tages of my invention will be apparent as the specification is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figurel is a longitudinal view through the cell partly in section, the outer casing or shell being cut away at the top;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section view through the cell;

Figure 3 is a plan view, the shell or casing and electrodes being. removed to show the insulating block;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of one of the end plates;

Figure 6 is a vertical'sectional view of a dified form of the invention, wherein the electrodes are vertically arranged within a. rectangular casing, and

Figure 7 is a side view of a modification of 1928. Serial No. 265,927.

the rectangular electrode illustrated in Figure 6.

Referring more specifically to the drawing,

wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, and with more particular reference to the preferred form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the numeral 1 denotes a reservoir' of any desired shape, preferably rectangular adapted to containa fluid electrolyte 2, capable of giving off the desired gas or gases. In the case of water, which is the electrolyte contemplated herein, as being a very simple example, the fluid water is decomposed (under electrolytic action) into two gases, hydrogen which assembles at the negative pole of the electrical circuit, and oxygen which collects at the positive pole. These gases are segregated one from the other and drawn 0E for commercial or other uses in a manner about to be described.

Mounted upon the top wall 3 of the reservoir is an outer shell or casing 4 comprising a curved body member 5 and end walls 6 and 7. The body member 5 is preferably made of relatively thin flexible sheet metal and is formed with outwardly bent ang ar flanges 8 along its edges to facilitate'attachment to the reservoir andto also provide a more stable support for the body member. The end plates are of any relatively heavy material which is preferably a nonconductor of electricity. Any suitable means such as clips 9 are employed to secure the end walls to the curved body member 5; and one of the end walls, preferably the wall 6, is provided with a large centrally disposed opening 10 and a pluralityof smaller openings 11 adjacent its periphery.

The reservoir 1 is formed with spaced elon- 90 gated parallel openings or slots 12 and 13 in its top wall 3, and mounted upon the top wall and secured thereto by screws 14, is an insulating block 15, formed with openings 16 and 17 corresponding to the openings or 95 slots 12 and 13 and registering therewith. An absorbent fabric member or wick 18 clamped between a pair of inner and outer curved flexible sheet metal members 19 and 20 has its end portions 21 extending through the regis- 1 tering openings just mentioned and into the reservoir. The member 18 is of any suitable fabric material which is not subject to electrolytic action. These members 19 and 20 which form positive and negative electrodes respectively are similar in shape and concentrically arranged with respect to the body portion 5 of the outer shell or casing 4. The electrodes 19 and 20 are connected with a source of electrical current as at 37 and 38. The side edges of'the member 19 are bent outwardly to form flanges 22 which rest upon the beveled seats 23 formed on the insulating block 15, similar seats 24 are adapted to receive the inwardly bent side edges or flanges 25 of the member 20, any suitable fastening means such as screws 26 being employed to secure the respective flanges in place. It will be noticed that adjacent side edges or flanges are connected to the block 15 in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of the respective openings or slots 16 and 17 in the block, thus leaving these slots open so that the ends 21 of the fabric wick member may be passed therethrough into the reservoir. It

i will also be seen that the members 5 and 19,

end walls 6 and 7 and the top wall 3 of reservoir 1 form a small curved outer chamber 28, and that the member 20, end walls 6 and 7 and central top portion of the insulating block 15 form a larger similarly curved inner chamber 29. These chambers communicate through the respective openings 10 and 11 with gasometers (not shown) for collecting the oxygen and hydrogen gases.

. In order to increase the resilient clamping action of the outer sheet metal member or electrode 19, upon the wick 18, the latter is formed with an outwardly bent or buckled portion 30. Preferably, the electrode members 19 and 20 are provided with projections 31 and 32 formed by punching the sheet metal of the respective members'inwardly and outwardly so that the respective projections will extend into the gas collecting chambers 28 and 29. In the preferred embodiment i1- lustrated in Figures 1 and 2, elongated portions are punched out, thus leaving elongated slots '33 and resulting in projections of corresponding length. Saw toothed projections 35 and 36 are also formed on the members 19 and 20. These saw teeth projections extend inan opposite direction to that of the corresponding projections 31 and 32 and assist inholding the fabric member 18 in place. This punched out construction increases the stability of the electrodes and the projections 31 and 32 afford a greater exposed surface upon which the products of electrolytic action can collect,

The modified constructionv illustrated in Figure 6 is identical with the preferred embodiment of the invention previously described with the exception of minor structural changes incident to the vertical arrangement of the electrode members 19 and 20. In this alternative form the reservoir 1 supports the outer rectangular shell or casing 4', consisting of side walls 40, end walls 6 and insulated top or cover 41, the latter being connected to the top of the casing by bolts 42, the bottom of the casing being bolted as at 43 to the insulating block 15. The pairs of electrode members 19 and 20 are formed with threaded extensions 44 and 45 respectively which project up through the top or cover 41. A bar 46. connects the threaded extensions of the two electrodes 19 of positive polarity, and a second bar 47 connects the two negative electrodes 20 in a similar manner, nuts 48 being employed to clamp the bars to the top or cover. One of the end plates 6 is provided with openings 55 and 55 communicating with the outer or positive electrode gas chambers. A larger single opening 56 in the same end plate is in communication with the central negative electrode gas chamber 57. These openings lead to a gasometer, not shown.

The fabric member 18' is clamped between opposing electrodes and the saw teeth 35' and '36, which are perhaps more essential in this form of the invention. securely hold the fabric in position. The lower ends 21' of the fabric member extend through the. slots 16', 17 and 12' and 13 into the reservoir but it is obvious that these ends may be joined. It

will also be understood that the projections .serrated portions 51 and plain perforations 52, all of which serve the same purpose as the projections 31 and 32 and 31 and 32' previously described, namely to collect the gases libeated from the water or other electrolyte use It will be understood that water from .the reservoir will be slowly brought up between the electrodes by capillary attraction where it will be subjected tothe action of electrical currents. Under certain conditions it might be desirable to feed the water downward by gravity, and I consider it to be within the scope of my invention to make such minor structural changes as might be necessary to secure a gravity feed.

Where a powdered electrolyte is used in lieu of water or other liquid the powdered substance would be fed slowly by gravity down through the fabric member, the latter being more loosely assembled than when de signed to convey a liquid.

Having thus described. my invention what I claim as my invention is; 1. Anelectrolytic cell comprising a casing, spaced perforated electrodes mounted in the casing, and a fabric member for feeding an electrolyte positioned between said perforated electrodes. 7 i 2. An electrolytic cell comprising a casing, spaced perforated electrodes mounted in the 10 casing, and a fabric member for feeding an electrolyte positioned between said perforated electrodes and means for anchoring the fabric in place.

'3. An electrolytic cell comprising a casing, spaced curved concentric electrodes of resilient material mounted in said. casing, a fabric member for feeding electrolyte positioned between said electrodes.

4. An electrolytic cell comprising a casing, spacedperforated electrodes mounted in the casing, and a fabric member for feeding an electrolyte positioned between said perforated electrodes and means for anchoring the fabric in place, one of said electrodes provided with an outwardly bulged portion whereby said last mentioned electrode will tightly press the fabric against the other electrode.

5. An electrolytic. cell comprising a closed reservoir for containing an electrolyte, 2. casing mounted upon the container, spaced elec-' trodes within the casing mounted upon said reservoir and dividing the casing into noncommunicating gas compartments, the space between said electrodes communicating with the interior of the reservoir and means within said space for conveying the electrolyte between said electrodes.

6. An electrolytic cellcomprising a casing, spaced perforated electrodes mounted in the 40 casing, and a fabric member for feeding an electrolyte positioned between said perforated electrodes and -means for anchoring the fabric in place, one of said electrodes provided with an outwardly bulged portion whereby said last mentioned electrode will tightly press the fabric against the other electrode and means for removing gases from said compartments.

7. An electrolytic cell comprising a casing, spaced electrodes in said casing dividing said casinginto gas compartments, said compartments being separated .from each other by the electrodes and the space therebetween, and a fabric member positioned in the said space between said electrodes adapted to feed the electrolyte slowly between sa d electrodes. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RALPH L. MACDONALD. 

